Practicing the way they play

One of the things Wizards coach Eddie Jordan and president Ernie Grunfeld repeatedly said they wanted to see this week was a highly competitive atmosphere, and the Wizards this week have produced just that throughout camp.

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It’s good, and almost comical, how deeply the players get into competing against one another whether it be relay races or scrimmages. All week long, DeShawn Stevenson has been arguing calls that don’t go his way and waving his hand in front of his face when knocking down 3’s. Today was no different. And he’s not the only one. Antonio Daniels and Caron Butler also give the officials working the scrimmages a hard time for either calling them for fouls they disagree with or not making calls in their favor. Today Daniels was mildly mauled by JaVale McGee and Linton Johnson as he brought the ball across halfcourt. He turned the ball over and action went the other way. A.D. jawed with the ref all the way up the court before finally getting a call to go his way the next time on offense. Even after that call, however, he had something to say.

The team was split into three groups for a dribbling relay race in which a player has to go up and down the court dribbling with their off hand on the way down, and dominant hand on the way back and up and back again before passing off to a teammate who does the same. One group won the first relay so the next two face off, and the loser of that matchup had to go again. The Wizards called each other out for carrying the ball, for not touching the line and any other slip-up they saw, trying to disqualify their counterparts.

Tomorrow more of that competitive spirit will be on display when the team holds an intrasquad scrimmage to conclude camp. It’s free to fans. Doors open at 4 p.m. Tip-off is at 5 p.m.